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Plain Language is writing intended to be easily comprehensible by its intended audience. Used in government, legal, medical, and now educational writing, the primary goals of Plain Language are greater usability and equitable access. Current practices of describing databases to library users prioritizes marketing language and targets an audience of experts. In this article, the authors share applying Plain Language to library database descriptions to make them more understandable to novice undergraduate researchers. In revising the entire database list using Plain Language principles, they identified best practices for database descriptions. Initial usability results from the project are included. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this case study, the University of Idaho Library describes how advance planning, research, creativity, and collaboration enabled them to reopen to students during the summer of 2020 during the global COVID-19 pandemic and with reduced staff. By creating staging plans for computer labs and tables, a system for regular cleaning, backup staffing plans, eye-catching signage, quarantine protocols for library materials, and enforcing safety measures, the library was able to continue to provide services while keeping staff and patrons safe. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]